Mumbai | 15 November 2025: As India strengthens its institutions through transparency and accountability, the need for professionally managed religious organisations is growing. Addressing this shift, Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool), Mumbai, inaugurated Batch 2 of its Temple Management Programme on 13 December 2025, offering students a unique opportunity to apply management education beyond corporate settings.
The inauguration brought together leaders from academia, law, and public service, who underscored the importance of ethical and structured temple governance. The programme blends classroom learning with field immersion and practitioner insights, equipping students with capabilities across services management, perspective management, an understanding of the spiritual economy, financial frameworks, and community engagement, preparing them for responsible leadership in sacred institutions.
Welcoming the new batch, Advocate Shri S. K. Jain, Chairman – Managing Council, Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, and Chairman – College Development Committee, emphasised the importance of responsible trust governance in today’s complex environment; “Temple Trust Management goes far beyond administration. It involves balancing the interests of trustees, devotees, priests, government authorities, and society at large. This programme equips learners with the right mindset and managerial discipline to protect trust assets, ensure transparency, manage crowds sensitively, and uphold faith without compromising emotions,” he said.
Drawing attention to current challenges faced by religious trusts, ranging from regulatory compliance and financial accountability to crowd control and infrastructure utilisation, he added that structured education in temple management is no longer optional but essential for safeguarding India’s spiritual and cultural institutions.
Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, WeSchool, highlighted the programme’s larger vision of nation-building through education; “For us, this initiative is about ‘Temple Management for Nation Building’. Temples are not only places of worship; they are social, cultural, and economic nerve centres of communities. By integrating modern management practices with Indian Knowledge Systems and value-based learning, we aim to create leaders aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047,” he said.
Dr. Suresh Haware, Chairman, Temple Management – Core Committee, congratulated WeSchool for being the first institution globally to launch a formal, structured programme in temple management; “WeSchool is the pioneer of Temple Management education. The first batch will always be remembered as the founding cohort of this movement, and the second batch carries forward that legacy. This programme addresses real-world challenges such as, temple economy and even the application of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence,” he said.
Adding a social perspective, Shri Sumant Amshekar, social worker and activist, spoke about temples as invisible yet powerful centres of management; “The best management is often the one that is not noticed. Temple management is about service, discipline, and creating an ecosystem where devotees experience dignity, order, and spiritual fulfilment. This programme has the potential to turn temples into centres of social transformation,” he said.
Dr. Suhas Pednekar, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Mumbai, highlighted the cultural significance of temples in India’s civilisational framework; “Indian society has always stood on four pillars, home, school, temple, and nature. Strengthening temples through knowledge and modern management is essential to preserving our cultural foundation while preparing for the future,” he remarked.
With the inauguration of Batch 2, WeSchool continues its mission to create socially responsible leaders capable of managing sacred institutions with professionalism, compassion, and accountability, ensuring that India’s temples remain resilient pillars of faith, service, and nation-building.
